Here’s how Birmingham television viewers can sample NBC, CBS programming in August

Television viewers in Birmingham should prepare for changes to local broadcast lineups beginning August 1. Paramount and Nexstar Media Group recently reached a new broadcasting agreement that shifts network affiliations between two major local stations.

WVTM-13, a Hearst-owned station that currently carries NBC, will add CBS programming to its lineup. According to station officials, this content will be available on the 13.4 over-the-air channel. Viewers who use an antenna may need to perform a channel scan on their televisions after the date change to ensure they can receive the new broadcast.

At the same time, the local CBS affiliate WIAT-42 will transition to become a station owned by The CW Network. Nexstar Media Group representatives state this move is intended to allow WIAT to expand its local news coverage and community programming during daytime and evening hours. The change follows the reduction of standard CBS network programming on the channel.

Local stations are working to manage viewer expectations during this transition. WVTM has explicitly communicated to its audience that primary operations remain stable and the station is not undergoing a total programming overhaul. Households relying on standard antenna setups are the primary group affected by the need to rescan frequencies to capture the adjusted channel list. These updates reflect broader shifts in how national networks distribute content through local affiliates across the country.